Perth

Canning Showgrounds and greyhound racing track set for major upgrade

2013-03-11T05:00:00Z

EOI calls for developers to pitch for a 2.86ha business park in the city’s heartland

PERTH, 11 MARCH 2013 – The 12.97ha Canning Showgrounds and home of Greyhounds WA is set to undergo a major redevelopment with a call for expressions of interest by the ground’s owners, the Canning Agricultural Horticultural and Recreational Society Inc.

The Society, through Jones Lang LaSalle, today announced a plan which focuses on the development of a 2.86ha business park to be known as the Showgrounds Business Development Park, that will facilitate the creation of a new greyhound racing complex at the rear of the property and the establishment of a larger multiple use showground and community facility fronting Albany Highway.

Located immediately east of Westfield Carousel shopping centre, parts of the property have been in the hands of the Society for over 100 years.

Director of Sales and Investments WA for Jones Lang LaSalle, Phillip Fogliani, said the Society was proposing to enter into an agreement with the private sector that would see a wholesale revamp of the existing property’s layout and facilities.

“The Society is proposing the creation of a business park at the corner of Liege Street and Albany Highway for which the successful proponent will be granted a ground-lease,” said Mr Fogliani.

Mr Fogliani said that Greyhounds WA would be relocated to a 5.23ha area currently occupied by an old trotting track on a long-term lease.

“The successful proponent will have an extended period to gain planning approvals and conduct a pre-leasing campaign with access of the business park not expected to be available before mid-2015, when the current Greyhound WA’s current licence expires.”

The Society would retain almost 4.9 hectares of land at the corner of Albany Highway and along Station Street for its activities.

Society Executive Officer, Mrs Dianne Begg, said that the Society was excited by the prospect of maximising its landholding’s value and aimed to achieve three key objectives as part of the redevelopment program.

“In the first instance, we want to expand and improve exhibition facilities and community activities at the grounds while also facilitating the development of the greyhound racing amenities through a new racing complex.

“And secondly, we are seeking to strengthen the Society’s financial position and thus support our on-going activities through a commercial property development.”

Mrs Begg said the redevelopment would provide for a significantly larger showground facility and additional exhibition halls which would increase both its versatility and appeal to event organisers and the community.

Mr Fogliani said the site was one of the few relatively ‘clean’ properties remaining on Albany Highway in Cannington while providing developers with the opportunity to create an iconic and highly visible development.

“These features, along with the site’s retail/office potential, are enhanced by the site’s dual frontage and immediate proximity to the State’s largest regional shopping complex, added to which is the region’s massive population catchment.

“Furthermore the property is located in the MRS’s Canning City Centre Area and the local council’s City Centre Zone which provides for flexible zoning for office, retail, showroom, residential and student accommodation, all with generous height limits.

“The zoning also provides the potential for hotel and serviced accommodation, thus the prospect of a staged development that could in the future accommodate visitors to society events and greyhound races,” said Mr Fogliani.

“One of the key benefits for the successful proponent will be its ability to interact and complement its surrounding neighbours not only within the Society’s land holding but also the intensive retailing uses associated with the Carousel Shopping Centre.”

The Cannington proposal is the latest in an increasing number of surplus land redevelopment initiatives which have included the Perry Lakes Stadium and Claremont Football ovals, Subiaco’s Fine China site and the proposed Perth Stadium site at Burswood.

Mr Fogliani said the EOI process would be conducted in two stages with initial expressions calling for outlines of intended use and financial terms. Shortlisted proponents would then be invited to prepare concept plans along with finalisation of financial ground lease terms.

Stage 1 expressions of interest close at 2.00pm (WST) on Monday April 15.​